Owners Lara Hammel and Jeff Sommers say they intend today to be a very soft opening and that there is still a lot of work to be done before the space is fully finished. The pair are already well into onsite production but for now have modest seating and two freezers full of ice cream to sell by the scoop.

Some exciting plans are on the horizon though, including group tours; outdoor seating; a room where visitors can create their own flavors; and a possible rooftop patio overlooking the Stone Arch Bridge. So what will this expansion mean for the original Izzy's location?

The Merriam Park store, where all Izzy's ice cream was formerly produced, will remain open but will be focusing on making and selling ice cream novelties. Izzy's ice cream sandwiches and Izzy Pop treats will also appear in local grocery stores in the near future.

Today's opening date is a special one for Sommers and Hammel: it's the 13th anniversary of the day they opened their store on Marshall Avenue. Since then, the shop has received considerable national attention including being named one of America's best ice cream spots by Food & Wine Magazine and one of the 16 best in the U.S. by Saveur.